Best Boutique Hotel Chains 2017

Boutique hotel chains offer a way to break out of the typical dull hotel-room routine. We compared 10 popular boutique brands for this year’s Editors’ Choice awards. Read on to find out more about our semi-finalists, three finalists, and the winner.

Best Boutique Hotel Chains: The Methodology

To determine the best boutique hotel chains, we started with a broad list of boutique hotel chains big and small that had not only unique and trendy properties, but also a presence across many popular locations, special amenities and rewards, and positive reviews on TripAdvisor. We weighed the unique overall experience, loyalty program membership, and value in terms of add-ons, style, and property locations.

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(Photo: Kimpton Hotel Vintage)

Editors’ Choice and Readers’ Pick Winner: Kimpton Hotels

Intercontinental's Kimpton Hotels include 63 boutique hotels in 35 cities across the world. That's 32 U.S. locations, one in the Caribbean, and 10 more coming soon to hot spots including Paris, Amsterdam, and Grenada. Kimpton Hotels have free extras like complimentary wine hours, and are entirely pet-friendly with no added charge to bring your pet along. You can keep up with the chain's many on-site craft cocktail bars and farm-to-table restaurants on Kimpton's Life Is Suite blog.

While all guests can enjoy the wine and pet-friendliness, Kimpton's loyalty rewards program, Karma, offers last-minute deals and member-exclusive sales, plus free nights and spa credits. To top that all off, it's hard to find a property that doesn't have rave reviews on TripAdvisor. If you have a hotel habit in the States, Kimpton is virtually always there—and expanding its presence abroad now makes this chain even more worthwhile.

(Photo: Kimpton Hotel Vintage)

Editors’ Choice and Readers’ Pick Winner: Kimpton Hotels

Intercontinental's Kimpton Hotels include 63 boutique hotels in 35 cities across the world. That's 32 U.S. locations, one in the Caribbean, and 10 more coming soon to hot spots including Paris, Amsterdam, and Grenada. Kimpton Hotels have free extras like complimentary wine hours, and are entirely pet-friendly with no added charge to bring your pet along. You can keep up with the chain's many on-site craft cocktail bars and farm-to-table restaurants on Kimpton's Life Is Suite blog.

While all guests can enjoy the wine and pet-friendliness, Kimpton's loyalty rewards program, Karma, offers last-minute deals and member-exclusive sales, plus free nights and spa credits. To top that all off, it's hard to find a property that doesn't have rave reviews on TripAdvisor. If you have a hotel habit in the States, Kimpton is virtually always there—and expanding its presence abroad now makes this chain even more worthwhile.

(Photo: Tryp by Wyndham Brisbane Fortitude Valley)

Finalist: Tryp by Wyndham

Wyndham's boutique Tryp Hotels include 114 properties in North America, Europe, and Latin America, including four in the States, plus two more slated. Most Tryp hotels are located in bucket-list destinations across South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East—making this chain a valuable rewards option for international travelers. Abu Dhabi, Brisbane, Barcelona, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, and more await.

Tryp features social events in its lobbies that include free tapas and drinks, and has signature rooms to accommodate all types of travelers, like family-oriented ones with bunk beds. The chain's loyalty program, Wyndham Rewards, was named number one by U.S. News & World Report and includes free nights in over 70 countries. Fitness spaces and free Wi-Fi are standard, and select hotels are pet-friendly.

(Photo: Andaz London Liverpool Street)

Finalist: Hyatt Andaz

Of the 16 existing Hyatt Andaz properties, 11 are in the Americas—including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Ottowa locations. You'll also find Andaz in bucket-list spots in Asia (Shanghai, Tokyo, Delhi, and one slated for Singapore), plus two in Europe (London and Amsterdam).

Hyatt has made it Andaz's mission is to connect visitors with local arts and culture experiences free of charge, and hosts local artists in residence plus arts events in some locations. All U.S. locations are pet-friendly, and extras include free, locally sourced mini-bar snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

(Photo: Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong)

Hotel Indigo

Intercontinental has 50 Hotel Indigo properties in the Americas, plus 22 in Europe and nine in Asia. Hotel Indigo is part of Intercontinental Hotel Group’s rewards program, so loyal IHG travelers have plenty of spots to use and gain points. All U.S. properties are pet-friendly.

(Photo: MOXY New Orleans Downtown)

Moxy Hotels by Marriott

With 10 locations across the U.S. and Europe as of mid-2017, and dozens more opening in 2018, Moxy Hotels by Marriott is about to carve out a big spot in the international boutique hotels market. Moxy is part of the massive Marriott Rewards program, and offers stylish stays at low price points thanks to its hotel-giant parent company.

(Photo: Hotel 50 Bowery NYC)

Joie de Vivre

San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre boutique brand includes 20 California properties, two in Chicago, plus one location each in New Orleans, New York, D.C., and Baltimore. The sleek, intimate hotels are also community-focused: Guests have the option to donate through the hotel to local causes Joie de Vivre has already given hundreds of thousands of dollars to. According to its website, 20 Joie de Vivre properties are pet-friendly.

(Photo: Graduate Tempe)

Graduate Hotels

While it operates on a much smaller scale, Graduate Hotels are a unique option for college-town travelers. The collegiate-themed properties are all located near beloved universities: locations include Ann Arbor, Michigan; Oxford, Mississippi; Charlottesville, Virginia; Madison, Wisconsin; Tempe, Arizona; and Athens, Georgia. Seven more college-town locations are slated, making this independently operated chain both a stylish and convenient experience.

(Photo: Pomegranate Inn)

Lark Hotels

If you want an intimate boutique hotel done well, head to New England or California for Lark Hotels' 18 cozy, classic property offerings. Locations are in Napa and Mendocino in California, plus Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts locales including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Stylish decor is tailored to the location's culture and history. Lark Club members get access to exclusive deals, upgrades, and welcome extras.

(Photo: Mondrian Los Angeles)

Morgans Hotels

Some of the world's most luxurious locales have this boutique hotel in common. Find Morgans Hotel Group properties in five American cities (New York, Miami, L.A., San Francisco, and Las Vegas) plus spots in London, Istanbul, and Doha. Morgans Hotels will also soon have a presence in Dubai, Cartagena, and the luxe Turkish resort town of Cesme. Owned by hotel and nightlife giant sbe, Morgans is linked into entertainment and travel rewards program The Code, which offers members exclusive event invites and hotel and dining deals. If you're a jet-setting luxury traveler, Morgans has a lot to offer beyond the hotel.

(Photo: Archer Hotel Napa)

Archer Hotels

Archer Hotels bring luxe amenities not just to your favorite cities, but to some up-and-coming suburbs, too. Archer properties include hotels in Manhattan, Austin, and Napa as well as Burlington, Massachusetts; Redmond, Seattle; and Florham Park, New Jersey. Guests get authentic local inspiration through in-room add-ons like locally sourced food and beverages. In-hotel Archer restaurants are popular with locals and guests alike, for example Archer Hotel New York's Charlie Palmer Steak and Archer Hotel Austin's Second Bar + Kitchen.

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